rb&hArts is delighted to invite proposals from artists for a new commission to create artworks for the Exercise Physiology Rooms at Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea, London.

The Exercise Physiology testing rooms are specialist spaces where patients with lung and heart conditions are monitored through movement and supported in their recovery and long term management. We are commissioning artwork for two rooms within this department. The works will be placed on one blank wall and on a wall of windows fitted with blinds, which are often drawn on sunny days. These surfaces are in the direct line of sight for long periods during treadmill tests, and we hope the artworks will provide steady focal points that support concentration, reduce dizziness, and create a more welcoming environment.

We are seeking artwork that feels warm, engaging, and rich in visual detail. The pieces should offer multiple points of interest that staff can use to spark conversation with patients -particularly children -as a gentle form of distraction during what can be an uncomfortable or worrying experience. This interaction not only helps reduce anxiety, but can also support clearer test readings and improve patients' sense of balance and ease.

Many patients undergoing these tests live with congenital heart disease and may begin attending from as young as six or seven years old, returning every one to two years throughout their lives. It is therefore important that the space fosters positive memories and a sense of comfort. At the same time, the rooms are used primarily by adults, so the artwork must appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds.

rb&hArts is committed to co creation. We are looking for an artist who will work collaboratively with the department-staff, patients, and visitors-through a creative process that will help shape the concept and final artwork.